Pungent smell of medicines. Sweating foreheads. Bitten
nails. Shivering shoulders. Puppy glances. Restless legs.
They sat on a cold metal chair; they had finally managed to capture after a series of unfortunate events and unsuccessful attempts. It’s never easy to grab a chair when so many eyes are transfixed at it.
‘’Chai?’’ She offered.
But he was too busy to answer. Fighting the tears and resisting the temptation.
She shook him slightly and ‘get lost!’ he screamed, with a jerk.
“What’s wrong with this man?” She wondered and managed passing the crowd of murmurs; stumbling and falling.
Pranav and Priya were a newly-wed couple; unlike the newly-wed couples; who were anxiously waiting for an alleviating opposite the bench of the ICU room, Care Hospital.
Pranav’s mother was apparently hit by a motorcycle when went for grocery shopping a week back; perhaps, was supposed to show “signs of recovery” gaining back senses and responding to touch.
The couple had miraculously been able to leave their quarrels within the four walls and deal with the situation in co-ordination. At least, until the last hour. But that was not all what bothered the lean, dusky and intense grey-eyed man. Not just Priya and her recent annoying habits; or the obvious worry and stress for his “aai”; his soul hid something else. A deep, dark, unsaid secret.
For him, Life was too grim for levity.
His
forehead did not only sweat tension, but desire.They sat on a cold metal chair; they had finally managed to capture after a series of unfortunate events and unsuccessful attempts. It’s never easy to grab a chair when so many eyes are transfixed at it.
‘’Chai?’’ She offered.
But he was too busy to answer. Fighting the tears and resisting the temptation.
She shook him slightly and ‘get lost!’ he screamed, with a jerk.
“What’s wrong with this man?” She wondered and managed passing the crowd of murmurs; stumbling and falling.
Pranav and Priya were a newly-wed couple; unlike the newly-wed couples; who were anxiously waiting for an alleviating opposite the bench of the ICU room, Care Hospital.
Pranav’s mother was apparently hit by a motorcycle when went for grocery shopping a week back; perhaps, was supposed to show “signs of recovery” gaining back senses and responding to touch.
The couple had miraculously been able to leave their quarrels within the four walls and deal with the situation in co-ordination. At least, until the last hour. But that was not all what bothered the lean, dusky and intense grey-eyed man. Not just Priya and her recent annoying habits; or the obvious worry and stress for his “aai”; his soul hid something else. A deep, dark, unsaid secret.
For him, Life was too grim for levity.
“12 ki nahi! 10 ka rate hai!” fought the lady in sky-blue salwar kameez with the vendor, and saving two rupees started walking back to her husband. Or, ‘suffocation’, as she lately devised.
She boiled with rage and fury but had promised to stand by her lawfully accepted mother, and so she did. Also, if not she, WHO?
Fighting her own thoughts and embracing the difficulties with her smile, she took short steps back to the ICU. With a chai in her right hand for the suffocation.
Lost in her own world she was brought back to life by a man in green robe and a face mask.. “Must be a doctor”, she thought.
“Are you the one attending Saraswati?” he inquired.
“Yes, I am her daughter” she shot her words, now soaked in fear.
The face was invisible. Expressions, unread. It could be anything. She prepared herself for the most lamenting news.
“Your mother is safe now. Congratulations! She has finally started responding to us. Celebrate, celebrate!” he screamed and went.
She was filled with a sudden sense of accomplishment. No words in her dictionary could ever describe the feeling; the state of happiness she experienced. Forgetting all the grievances, she ran for Pranav; but he was nowhere to be seen.
She knew where he was and died a little inside. But anyhow, ran to the window and grabbed the man who appeared to be a shadow.
“Baby! Mumma has recovered. Our aai can go back home now!! Let’s go and see her, together” she chirped with a grin sufficient to make every person’s mood on the floor.
But, it was too late. Pranav had touched euphoria. Cocaine had already dried the sweat off his head. The desire was satisfied, and brain at rest.
With the crimson tip of his nose and dizzy blackening sight, he pushed her wife and yelled “WHO AAI?”
